Featured Hall of Famer: Dan Marino

April 11, 2006

Pittsburgh's Dan Marino was a home-town hero. He grew up in Pittsburgh and attended college just five minutes from his home. After attending Central Catholic High School it seemed natural to stay at home for his college career despite being the focus of a national recruiting effort. Marino was a gifted multi-sport star who was a fourth round draft pick by baseball's Kansas City Royals. In addition to his overall athletic ability, Marino possessed the specific skills to be a great quarterback: arm strength, accuracy, and one of the quickest releases in football history, all contained on a 6-4, 218 lbs frame. Marino became a starter in the later part of his freshman season, beating arch rivals West Virginia and Penn State, and leading the Panthers to a Fiesta Bowl victory. A knee injury limited his playing time as a sophomore. Despite this handicap he still managed to throw 14 touchdown passes for Coach Jackie Sherrill. As a junior, he became a first team All-America and placed fourth in the Heisman voting. In 1981, he completed 59 percent of his passes, threw for 2,876 yards and his 34 touchdown passes led the nation. The Panthers posted an 11-1 record that season, the second straight year Pitt finished as the nation's second ranked team and the third consecutive season that Marino quarterbacked an 11-1 team. In Marino's last Pitt campaign he added another 2,251 passing yards and 17 touchdowns to his career total of 7,905 yards and 74 touchdowns. As a professional, Marino played 16 seasons with the Miami Dolphins.